Costa Rica Livin’
Costa Rica Livin’ turtle mark

About us

Costa Rica Livin’ helps individuals and families find a home or investment property in Guanacaste — North American standards with local expertise.

Our company

At Costa Rica Livin’, we specialize in helping individuals and families find their dream home or investment property in Costa Rica. With a background in real estate and international investments, our team of certified professionals provides personalized guidance, ensuring a smooth and transparent buying experience. We are committed to delivering North American standards with local expertise, helping our clients embrace the Pura Vida lifestyle with confidence.

Our Vision

We believe in building relationships, not just closing deals. Our vision is to be the most trusted real estate advisory team in Costa Rica, providing expert guidance with honesty, integrity, and professionalism. We aim to help our clients make informed decisions, ensuring that every investment leads to a better quality of life and financial security in this tropical paradise.

Our Team

Ian Shaw

Ian Shaw isn't just another real estate agent working in Costa Rica — he's lived it. Known throughout the Guanacaste Gold Coast as “That Costa Rica Livin’ Guy,” Ian has called Costa Rica home for over a decade, giving him a depth of on-the-ground insight that most agents simply can't offer. As a Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) and owner of Costa Rica Livin’ Realty & Development, based in Playas del Coco, he brings over a decade of experience helping Canadian and American buyers find their place in paradise — whether that's a beachfront lot on the Gold Coast, a lake-view retreat along the Arenal corridor, or an investment property in the Central or South Pacific.

Before real estate, Ian built a 35-year career across retail management, television production, and technology — experience that shows up today in how he runs his business: organized, media-savvy, and genuinely focused on client service rather than the hard sell. That background also fuels his knack for marketing properties creatively, from social media campaigns to development branding.

What sets Ian apart is his ability to speak both languages — the language of a serious real estate transaction, and the language of what it's actually like to relocate, build, and live in Costa Rica. He guides clients through every step: property search, legal and residency considerations, financing options like SDIRA, and connections to trusted local partners for construction, legal work, and property management.

When he's not showing property, you'll likely find Ian scuba diving, on the golf course, exploring Costa Rica's beaches and rainforests, or supporting local animal welfare causes — the same pura vida lifestyle he helps his clients find for themselves.

Danielle Henry | Property Management & Sales Consultant

Originally from the United States, Danielle Henry brings a unique combination of real estate experience, customer service, and professional recruiting expertise to her work in property management and sales consulting.

Before entering real estate, Danielle worked as an IT Recruiter, where she developed a talent for understanding exactly what clients were looking for and finding highly specific matches. Today, she brings that same skill to real estate — listening carefully to buyers, investors, owners, and guests to understand their needs and connect them with the right property or solution.

Danielle has personally owned four properties and has a genuine passion for real estate. For the past two years, she has worked in property management, managing a condominium complex as well as vacation rental properties. Her approach is highly customer-focused, with an emphasis on creating positive guest experiences, protecting owners' investments, and maximizing each property's rental potential.

As a sales consultant, Danielle takes the time to learn what her clients are really looking for rather than simply showing them what is available. Her goal is to understand their priorities, lifestyle, investment objectives, and budget so she can help identify properties that truly fit.

Whether working with a property owner looking to increase rental income or a buyer searching for the right investment or home, Danielle combines attention to detail, persistence, and a genuine desire to help her clients succeed.

Her philosophy is simple: listen first, understand the goal, and then find the right fit.

Leonora Prince | Brokerage Leadership & Consultancy

Leonora has worked in real estate for more than 45 years, across Hawaii, Washington, Idaho, Tennessee, California and Costa Rica. She has founded and run brokerage firms of her own, and brings that leadership experience and a wider market view to every transaction she takes on.

Leonora consults rather than lists. Having run brokerages in four US states, she is the person to ask when a decision needs a second opinion from someone who has seen the same situation before — and she is discreet about it.

Professional Designations & Qualifications

  • Associate of Arts in Real Estate
  • GRI (Graduate, REALTOR® Institute): legal matters and sales strategy
  • CRS (Certified Residential Specialist): the senior credential for residential sales agents
  • ABR (Accredited Buyer's Representative): representing the buyer's side of a purchase
  • CLHMS (Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist): the upper end of the international market
  • NAR Green Designation: sustainable building and energy-efficient properties
  • CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member): commercial and investment analysis

Her background also covers large-scale property management and interior design, so she can talk about a property as something to run and live in, not only something to buy. She has worked in commercial sales and business management as well.

Daniela Soto | Property Consultant

Daniela Soto brings a refined blend of luxury hospitality expertise and real estate sales experience to every client relationship. As Executive Sales Assistant & Concierge at Bahía Papagayo, Daniela worked directly with high-end real estate prospects — coordinating property tours, managing client appointments, and guiding buyers through every step of their journey with the same precision and warmth she's known for.

Before moving into real estate, Daniela built her foundation in world-class hospitality at two of the most respected names in luxury travel: the Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica and the Andaz Costa Rica Resort, both at Península Papagayo. In these Forbes-rated environments, she learned to anticipate guest needs before they're spoken, manage high-stakes details with grace, and deliver the kind of white-glove service international buyers expect.